Stressed-out mum Kimberley Walsh has found the best way to let off steam – screaming at her fellow stars.

The former Girls Aloud singer is ­starring in Channel 4 show Ackley Bridge and is juggling her new acting career with motherhood. But she says on-screen clashes with ex-EastEnder Jo Joyner help her get through it.

Kimberley, 36, who plays a fiery netball teacher in the hit drama, said: “It was really fun playing the confrontation scenes, Jo just lost it.

“But it can be hard juggling my career and having kids. I don’t have a nanny or anything. But we have managed it so far.

“Things come up so last minute with me and my work, so it’s like ‘OK, let’s change the plan again’.”

Kimberley has two sons – Cole, one, and Bobby, three. And she revealed this week that little Cole is now best pals with ex-bandmate Cheryl Tweedy’s son Bear.

The two tots enjoy messy play dates together.

“Cole and Bear are just starting to be proper buddies,” she says.

“Now they are giving each other dummies and passing each other food. I adore them.”

Kimberley credits her husband, former Triple 8 member Justin Scott, 35, for helping her keep family life ticking over. She says: “My Justin is amazing, I’ve got a really supportive family, between us all we do it as a family affair. And the boys love it.

She’s busy juggling her new acting career with motherhood (Image: Channel 4)

“It’s good for the kids to see me working – it’s a good role model. My mum always worked really hard. It ­definitely had an impact on me.”

Kimberley and Justin met at a concert in 2003 as their bands were signed to the same label, Polydor. He proposed right after she gave birth to Bobby in 2014. They tied the knot in Barbados in 2016, with bridesmaids including Kimberley’s Girls Aloud pals Nicola Roberts and Cheryl.

The pop star is reinventing herself as an actress but also has a residency singing at London’s Brasserie Zedel from July 23. And she reckons her kids will follow her into showbusiness.

She says: “My son is only three but sometimes I can’t tell what is real or what is acting. He goes into little scenes.

“I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’ And he’s like, ‘I’m acting, Mummy. It’s not real’. I think, ‘Oh my god, what have I created?’

The Girls Aloud star with hubby, Justin Scott (Image: Dave Hogan)

“At Christmas we are like the Von Trapps because me and my sisters are all actors. We are always singing. My husband finds it weird.

“Everybody thinks of me as a singer but actually I’ve been acting since I was five. But I don’t think I could be a Bond girl – those days are over. But I would like to think, as a woman, I could stay on TV for the next 30 years.”

She is also proud that Ackley Bridge shines a light on issues such as teen pregnancy and bullying.

She adds: “It’s brilliant that they tackle challenging issues. It helps people speak out when they’re represented on TV.”